Container Gardening

As spring arrives, many city, apartment and condo dwellers have "spring fever"; They dream about gardens and wish they could plant vegetables, fruit and flowers. No matter where you live, this is certainly a possibility if you look at the many ideas available for creating container gardens.

The project takes some planning, but is certainly worthwhile. The first "home grown" salad spiced with fresh, sweet juicy tomatoes and peppers will be the pay off! Add to this a bouquet of your home grown flowers at center stage on your dining table. Envision topping off the meal with strawberry shortcake created with your personally grown ever-bearing strawberry plants!

It is important to spend some time looking at the spot where you want to place your planter. Is it protected from the wind and beating rain? Is it an area that gets sun for at least a good part of the day? Look at the setting you have chosen to make sure the full grown produce does not block the view you enjoy.

Make sure the planter is heavy enough to withstand gusts of summer wind. A planter can simply be a heavy wooden box or a ceramic or metal box you purchase from the garden center at your favorite nursery or home repair store. Be creative and use several sizes, shapes and colors that compliment your home.

Some of the vegetables and fruits that work well in a container garden include: carrots, beans (bush type), cucumbers, eggplants, kale, lettuce, onions, peas (need trellis or string to climb), peppers (hot or sweet), radishes, (bush type) yellow and zucchini summer squash, tomatoes both vining and cherry tomatoes. The vining tomatoes may need a trellis or twine to climb.

Planters are great for growing carrots. Use both vegetables and annuals and you'll have a container vegetable garden that is attractive and productive. Peppers are both edible and colorful in planters. Lettuce is easy to grow and grows rapidly in garden planters. Choose the mixed lettuce which contains several kinds of lettuce, as well as spicy salad greens like as mustard and arugula. Imagine stepping outside your back door and harvesting your dinner salad! It is a learning experience for the entire family as well as the way to provide perhaps the most delicious salad you have ever tasted! Some fruits and berries do well in container gardens. Try blueberries and strawberries - the ever-bearing variety will keep you in berries for your cereal all summer long! Try dwarf varieties of apples, apricots, cherry peach, pear, plum, and citrus trees. A ceramic or terra cotta planter is great for strawberries. Fruit trees do better with a thick plastic or wooden planter. A barrel cut in two works well for this kind of planting.

Take time to plan. Your berries and fruit trees should be placed in the best area for light and sun. Consider how much wind and beating rain will come down in the area you have chosen to plant your dwarf trees. Remember watering is important. Remember also too much water will kill plants. Green is a very popular buzz word; however keeping the earth green is a truly important part of all our lives and the lives of those who follow!